Simulator-based cardiology training programme under way at SCTIMST

“Back to the Basics”, a three-day simulator-based training course on the fundamentals of cardiac interventions, organised by the Department of Cardiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, got under way here on Friday.

S. Harikrishnan, Professor and Head of Cardiology, SCTIMST, said that this is the 13th edition of the annual programme organised by SCTIMST, which has seen heavy attendance over the years.

This year too, over 250 cardiologists in their early career as well as cardiologists-in-training from across the country and some neighbouring countries are participating in the programme.

With technology and AI now driving vast areas of diagnostics and cardiac interventions, training the next generation cardiologists with the latest in imaging and simulation has become an imperative.

“Back to the Basics” covers various aspects of diagnostic and interventional procedures in patients with coronary artery disease, valvular heart diseases, and related imaging. Basics of invasive approaches to common congenital heart diseases affecting newborns through the paediatric age group to adulthood are being discussed as part of the programme.

Sessions on implantation of artificial pacemakers and other devices for patients with disorders of heart rhythm and conduction is another highlight of the course.

A special feature of the training programme is the use of simulators to provide hands-on experience for the trainees.

Simulation-based training affords a great opportunity for budding cardiologists to get hands-on training in the basics of various interventional procedures such as inserting a catheter and guidewire, and using the right amount of force. Real clinical case scenarios can be simulated, as well as possible complications, to help the trainees learn how to manage them.

The key attractions of the programme this year are simulator sessions on percutaneous (non-surgical) aortic valve replacement, laser angioplasty, CT imaging and Wetlab sessions cardiac anatomy, wet model on Rotablation and advanced intracoronary imaging and physiology assessment.

Demos of cardiac support devices like IABP, ECMO and Impella, trans-esophageal echo simulator will be there this year. Dissection of cadaver human heart is another highlight.

The faculty is drawn from among the alumni of the Department of Cardiology of SCTIMST from across the country. A course book and a CD containing all the deliberations during the conference will be distributed to all the participants.